Gaetz, Crenshaw, and AOC Champion Therapies for Veterans in National Defense Act

WASHINGTON – Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives,  Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) and Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) have partnered with prominent congressional Democrat on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). No, it wasn’t Reps. Charlie Crist (D-FL) or Stephanie Murphy (D-FL), but none other than Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY).

The part of the bill in which the three lawmakers came together involves funding for research concerning the medicinal and therapeutic treatments that veterans receive after coming home from war-torn areas, possibly causing symptoms such as PTSD.

The Floridian’s Javier Manjarres spole to Reps. Crenshaw and Gaetz shortly after votes on Friday where Gaetz expanded more on the technicalities of the amendment and what currently is being prescribed to some veterans upon returning home.

“It’s the authority to do research on this MDMA, psilocybin therapy regimen," said Gaetz. “What we’re working on are your different ways that you can research the use of that with these specific populations that are the most susceptible to addiction, suicide, opioids."

Gaetz added, "You know, a lot of the treatment that these guys (veterans) get, it’s heavy barbiturates, and they call it the ‘combat cocktail.’ When they get home and get a lot of this really disruptive drug regimen.”

Rep. Crenshaw also  stated, “there’s a lot who have gone through this stuff and are the real advocates for it and the research is kind of recent.”

When asked about whether or not the Gaetz and Crenshaw part of the bill will be included, Gaetz followed up with “we had advocates with me and AOC but it actually took a warrior in Dan to debate for it on the floor and pushed into the rules, and I think it’s going to be in the final bill.”

Crenshaw said he was looking for a senator to sponsor the amendment in the Senate, adding that he would like to see Sen. Joni Ernst get involved, adding that he was successful in getting the amendment to pass because there were so many other veterans who have been advocating for it.

For more updates concerning the National Defense Authorization Act, The Floridian has you covered.